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  • Aqsunqur Mosque Cairo

    Mosque of Amir Aqsunqur

    The mosque in Cairo, Egypt, was constructed between 1346 and 1347 by Prince Aq Sangar, a builder of Sultaniyah buildings. He is credited with the Aq Sangar Bridge on the Great Bay and built a magnificent house and two bathrooms on the Nasiriyah pond. Sangar was among the Ushaqiyah during King Al-Nasser Muhammad bin Qalawun's early days.

  • Al-Hakim be Aamr Ellah Mosque

    Mosque of al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah

    A millennium ago, Fatimid Cairo's oldest and largest mosque was built. In 989, Fatimid caliph Al-Aziz Billah realized the mosque could not accommodate more worshippers and scholars. He planned a new mosque, which was completed by the 6th Fatimid caliph, Al-Hakim Amr Allah. The mosque was inaugurated in 1012 AD and named after the ruler. In 1013 AD, the ruler issued a decision to turn the mosque into a “mosque” where jurisprudence is taught, to help the Al-Azhar Mosque to accommodate students and worshippers.

  • Visit Queen Nefertari’s Tomb

    Tomb of Queen Nefertari

    Nefertari's tomb is one of the creations of historical monuments built by the kings of the ancient Egyptian dynasties and became international archaeological attractions that are visited by tourists coming from different countries of the world to enjoy these interesting stories from inside the temples. Luxor's historical tombs, including "Nefertari's Tomb" No. 66 in the Valley of the Queens, are awe-inspiring. Discovered in 1904 by an Italian expedition, the tomb, which spans over 520 meters, features intricate inscriptions and colors, showcasing the love and devotion of King Ramses II.

  • tomb of Tutankhamun | Tutankhamun tomb discovery | king tut tomb pictures

    The discovery of King Tut's tomb

    The 18th Dynasty tomb of Tutankhamun, discovered by Howard Carter in 1922, is the only complete and undisturbed royal burial in the Valley of the Kings worldwide. On November 4, 1922, the sarcophagus of the Golden King was opened, and on February 16, 1923, British archaeologist Howard Carter entered his coffin room, which had never been accessed in over 3000 years of history. The tomb of Tutankhamun contained over 5000 artifacts.

  • the Virgin Mary’s tree.

    The Tree of Virgin Mary in Matareya

    The Virgin Mary's tree is one of the paths of the Holy Family, as it is located in the place where the Holy Family rested and became weak and frail. It is located in the far north of Cairo, near the obelisk of Senusret, and it can be reached from a street branching from Matrawy Street, which is the street of the Tree of Mary residences, where the tree is surrounded by a large wall and a beautiful garden in the middle of it.

  • Life History of Ahmed Ibn Tulun

    Life History of Ahmed Ibn Tulun

    Abu al-Abbas Ahmad bin Tulun, the prince of Egypt and founder of the Tulunid state in Egypt and the Levant, was born on September 20, 835, and is commemorated today as the birthday of the Abbasid state over Egypt. Ahmad ibn Tulun was born on September 20, 835 AD, from a slave girl named Qasim or Hashim, and his origins go back to the Turkish tribe of Taghzgar, although he was born in the city of Baghdad in Iraq, the capital of the caliphate at that time, and he is from a family that lived in Bukhara, and his father was known as Tulun.

The Alabaster Sphinx of Memphis

Information About Memphis's Alabaster Sphinx

  • 05 16, 2023

Information About Memphis's Alabaster Sphinx

After excavating a large number of sites, including Tanis, Naucratis, Hawara, Arsinoe, Illahun, Meydum, Amarna, Koptos, Nagada, Thebes, Denderah and Giza, William Matthew Flinders Petrie arrived at ancient Memphis - Mit Rahineh - in 1908.

Together with his assistant, British archaeologist Ernest John Henri MacKay - who had been working alongside him since 1907 - he made some fine discoveries in the temple precincts of Ptah until 1913.

Located south of Cairo, “Memphis was the city of the god Ptah, with whom Sekhmet and Nefertoum were associated from the New Kingdom onwards. The city, known as the historic "White Wall," served as the nation's capital during the Old Kingdom and acted as a crucial administrative center for the whole of the Double Country's history (Isabelle Franco).

Today, the site reveals little of its former grandeur, but you can imagine what the Egyptologists found: a palm grove, mostly flooded, in which blocks or vestiges of stone emerge.

a single block was used to create an alabaster statue that was modeled like the Sphinx. At 4 meters high and 7 meters long, the Sphinx weighs 80 tons. It is believed to have been carved during the 18th dynasty, during the reign of Hatshepsut, approximately in the 15th century BC, based on its features and the intricacies of the carving. A local was preparing the ground for the foundation of his new home while excavating in the vicinity (people here build their own houses).

While digging, he came across a mass of stone. He continued digging, but an official from the Egyptian antiquities department happened to be passing by. He found that this naive man had completely hammered the right-hand side of this sphinx. That's why you can see the left side of this sphinx in good condition, while the right side is hammered.

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Egypt Tours FAQ

Read top Egypt tours FAQs

Memphis was the ancient capital of Egypt during the Old Kingdom period. It is located near the modern-day city of Cairo but is primarily known for its archaeological sites, including the ruins of temples, statues, and other ancient structures. However, there is no specific sphinx made of alabaster associated with Memphis.

A long time ago, people in Egypt gave presents to a big statue called the Great Sphinx because they believed it would help them have a good harvest. But one person got very angry and broke the nose off the statue. He was punished for breaking something that was important to the people.

The Alabaster Sphinx of Memphis measures approximately 8 meters (26 feet) in length and stands about 4 meters (13 feet) tall. It is carved from a single block of alabaster stone and weighs an estimated 80 tons.

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